David Moody's Blog, page 18

Film Recommendation – XTRO

Many, many years ago, the VIDEO NASTIES debacle meant that horror fans like me in the UK were starved of movies. My only source of news at the time was STARBURST magazine which carried an article about a film called XTRO. I was so intrigued by the bizarre images that accompanied the feature (a woman trapped in a cocoon giving birth to eggs over a bathtub, an alien with inverted knee and elbow joints, and a full-size Action Man on the rampage to name but three) that teenage me made a promise to myself to hunt out the film. It took a few decades, but I managed it. It really is an oddity. I watched it again recently and decided it was a perfect obscurity for me to recommend here.

Here’s the story in a nutshell: after throwing a stick over the roof of his house for his dog to chase (seriously – it’s that kind of movie) a chap called Sam is abducted by aliens. He unexpectedly returns three years later and is reunited with his wife (now living with another man) and son. Things are as awkward as you’d expect between the main characters, and then the situation deteriorates as Sam begins to have an increasingly bizarre effect on his young son. Throw in a few sex scenes, a supporting cast of nosy neighbours and the like, a midget clown (like I said, it’s that kind of movie), and a woman giving birth to a full-grown man on a kitchen floor, and you’re just about there.

Read more

It’s a mess. It’s bizarre. It’s incoherent at times. So why am I recommending XTRO?

Because unlike the majority of movies which see the light of day today (I’m looking at you endless remakes, sequels and superhero movies), XTRO is jam-packed with originality. Though it takes its inspiration from some familiar sources (there’s more than a hint of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and it was marketed as the anti-ET at the time with the tag-line ‘not all extraterrestrials are friendly’), it’s refreshingly different. It moves along at a decent pace, doesn’t make a huge amount of sense at times, but it’s never boring. The effects are remarkably good, particularly for the early 1980s, the creature designs are great, the score (by director HARRY BROMLEY DAVENPORT) is effective in a John Carpenter-esque way, and there are a few scenes that’ll make you question what you’ve just watched and have you skipping back a couple of minutes to check you weren’t imagining things.

Like I said, with XTRO you’re not going to get the most coherent movie experience, but you will get a film chock-full of ambition and originality, and that’s got to be a good thing, right? And if one XTRO movie’s not enough for you, check out XTRO 2 and 3 (I intend to, though apparently there’s no connection other than the name and the reviews I’ve seen are less than glowing…). And be warned, as recently as 2010, Harry Bromley Davenport was promising more. Here’s a trailer for the 2019 blu ray release which confirms as much:

If you’re in the UK, you can stream XTRO now on Amazon Prime. You’ll thank me for it. I think.

The post Film Recommendation – XTRO appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

Blowing my own Trumpet

I hope you’ll indulge me blowing my own trumpet today. I’ve had a few conversations recently with folks who’ve just started online businesses, and it’s made me realise how far the bookstore aspect of INFECTED BOOKS has come over the last couple of decades. I wanted to give it an overdue plug.

Let’s go back to the early days… way, way, way back in 2003(ish) when INFECTED BOOKS first appeared online, if you wanted to buy a signed book from me it was a slow and cumbersome process that usually involved the exchange of several emails followed by physical cash or a cheque, then a delay while I got hold of the book, packaged it, then walked round to the Post Office and sent it to you. These days IB is a far more slick operation, with thousands of orders successfully processed. Stock levels are carefully managed and www.infectedbooks.co.uk is safe, secure, and well-reviewed. I come from an operations and customer service background, and the bookstore run like I used to run other people’s businesses. Old habits die hard!

If you haven’t already, please do check it out:

All books are signed, and you can request personalisationAll orders are dispatched within 24 hoursPrices are typically cheaper than other online bookstores (including the ‘big A’)Postage to UK addresses is absolutely freePurchases of books published by Infected Books include complementary eBook downloads (and the process for getting your download has recently been automated)

So, again, please forgive the self-indulgent advert, and visit www.infectedbooks.co.uk if you’re at all interested in picking up signed copies of my books. For a limited period you can get 10% off your order if you quote promo code TRUMPET10 at checkout!

CURRENT POPULAR DEALS

THE LONDON TRILOGY – 3 PAPERBACK BUNDLE

£38.50 REDUCED TO £30

CHAOS THEORIES – 3 PAPERBACK BUNDLE

£28 REDUCED TO £20

The post Blowing my own Trumpet appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

PODCAST RECOMMENDATION – ATOMIC HOBO

I’ve always considered myself a bit of an expert on THREADS. As a teenager in 1984, I was one of the traumatised millions who watched the film when it was first broadcast, and I’ve seen it countless times since. I’ve lost count of the number of TV recordings, VHS tapes, DVD, and blu ray versions I’ve owned over the years. I dragged my wife to Halifax a few years back to see it on the big screen followed by a Q&A with one of the stars, REECE DINSDALE. I’ve recommended it to literally hundreds of people, both at book events and in the day-to-day. When I worked for HSBC many years ago and regularly found myself in Sheffield, I’d even track down the filming locations in my spare time.

I thought I was something of an obsessive. Turns out JULIE MCDOWELL is a far bigger THREADS geek than me. Today, I want to recommend her excellent ATOMIC HOBO podcast to you.

Since 2018, ATOMIC HOBO has covered a huge range of topics relating to nuclear war and nuclear preparedness, much of it focused on how inadequate the guidance and protection would be to you and I – the ordinary folk a million miles removed from those making the decisions and carrying out the attacks. I think it’s this viewpoint that gives the podcast its appeal. Julie’s delivery and approach puts you at ease – it’s like a cosy fireside chat with a friend who’s spent far too long thinking about the end of the world. She dissects outdated governmental reports and propaganda publications such as PROTECT AND SURVIVE, talking about them with a brutal honesty, and almost always focussing on the utter uselessness and inadequacy of the official line. Along the way she also interviews relevant folks, most notably NICHOLAS MEYER who directed THE DAY AFTER, MICK JACKSON who directed THREADS, and RITA MAY who played (unforgettably) Mrs Kemp.

But what really keeps me coming back to the podcast is the ongoing FOUR MINUTES OF THREADS episodes, in which Julie studies every frame of the film in uncomfortable detail. No matter how well I think I know THREADS, no matter how much horror I think I’ve seen, Julie always manages to uncover a grim detail I’ve missed.

ATOMIC HOBO is available wherever you access your podcasts and on PATREON. Julie’s website is www.juliemcdowall.com. It’s a good time to start following the podcast – you can subscribe to the ATOMIC HOBO YouTube channel, where she’s just started adding video versions of FOUR MINUTES OF THREADS. She’s also got a book coming out in April – ATTACK WARNING RED!: HOW BRITAIN PREPARED FOR NUCLEAR WAR – which you can pre-order here.

The post PODCAST RECOMMENDATION – ATOMIC HOBO appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

12STORIES

Last summer I posted here about how I had too many ideas and not enough time. It struck a chord. Judging by the feedback I received from other writers, I know I’m not alone. Most people have a ‘to watch’ list and a ‘to read’ book pile – we also have a ‘to write’ queue! I explained that I was going to take a new approach, because I didn’t want all those ideas to go to waste. I can share the results of that new approach with you today.

12STORIES is a new section of this site. Each month, I’ll be posting an original short story or novella, and I hope you’ll find them interesting. As a writer, I know the value of experimenting and not getting stale. The stuff I post might be top-notch, it might be gutter-level, but I hope it’ll a) entertain you, and b) invigorate me.

As I’ve explained in my introduction to 12STORIES, I don’t know what I’m going to do with any of this stuff. It might be that I use the idea again or expand it. It might be consigned to the virtual waste-bin. Because I want to keep my options open, there will be a maximum of four stories available at any time.

My first effort – OVER AND OVER AND OVER (AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN) – is now available to read. As you’ll read, it has a connection to THE SPACES BETWEEN, the long-gestating science-fiction horror series that I’m hoping to finally start writing proper in 2023.

The post 12STORIES appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

AUTUMN: EXODUS (book three of the London trilogy)

“I’ve read a lot of zombie books, and Moody’s vision still remains so distinct as to be considered a genre of his own.” —Craig DiLouie, author of EPISODE THIRTEEN

PRINT
AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | INDIEBOUND | B&N

EBOOK
AMAZON | APPLE | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY | NOOK

SIGNED
INFECTED BOOKS | EBAY | ETSY

AUDIO
AUDIBLE | AMAZON | APPLE

The post AUTUMN: EXODUS (book three of the London trilogy) appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

FILM RECOMMENDATION – EXHIBIT A

It’s Saturday afternoon here. A good time to settle down with the family and enjoy a feel-good movie, perhaps? This probably isn’t one to watch with the kids…

In keeping with my threat to dig out more obscure films to recommend, here’s another grim little gem. I’m sure that, like me, you’ve seen more than your fair share of found footage movies. It’s a tired and overused format, but when it’s done right, it can be extremely effective. Case in point, EXHIBIT A. This is an uncomfortable recounting of the disintegration of a close-knit family in Yorkshire, told through the lens of a home camcorder.

Here’s a synopsis and trailer, followed by my thoughts.

The timely story of a normal family disintegrating under financial pressure, eventually driven to the unimaginable. We witness the terrifying events unfold through daughter Judith’s video camera, which subsequently becomes Exhibit A.

Read more

Over the years, I’ve found that the effectiveness of found footage movies often hinges on the plausibility of the set-up. That’s not to decry the importance of the script, the direction, or the performances, but if there’s no sensible reason for one of the characters to be holding onto a camera while they’re going through hell, it tends to undermine the movie. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT framed itself as a recovered documentary footage, for example, and in another successful example of the genre, BORDERLANDS (also known as FINAL PRAYER), we’re watching recordings made by a team investigating unusual happenings at a church. I must write about BORDERLANDS soon. It’s another cracker. At the other end of the scale, though, are films like CLOVERFIELD. Although entertaining, when the protagonists are clambering around on the top of a collapsing apartment block while an enormous monster destroys the immediate neighbourhood, I can’t help thinking ‘put the camera down, you jerk’, and that takes me straight out of the movie.

Back to EXHIBIT A. Here we have a young girl, Judith, with a video camera, using it to document the mundanity of family life (and to spy on the girl next-door, on whom she’s developed a crush). It’s a simple but effective device, allowing Judith to record and rewatch key parts of family life. But it’s not just Judith’s camera that’s important, it’s Judith herself. She’s not an observer documenting events from a distance, she’s a key player. We watch the horror unfold from her perspective, and that of the rest of her family trapped in a nightmare scenario together. There’s no escape from the camera’s unblinking eye.

As I usually do, I’m going to skirt around the detail because I’m recommending this film to you, not reviewing it. The performances are strong across the board and the direction and editing are top-notch, keeping events moving along at a good pace. There’s an inevitability to the story (and that’s not a criticism), which makes it all the more compelling. You know where it’s going (the clumsy DVD artwork is a heck of a giveaway), but the film draws you in and you can’t look away. The film was released in 2008 but, sadly, the themes and pressures which precipitate the family’s collapse – and in particular that of the father, Andy – are still all too resonant today.

I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed EXHIBIT A so much is because it does what I love best – it tells an extraordinary story through the eyes of a group of extremely ordinary people. As uncomfortable as it is, I can identify with aspects of Andy’s plight (though not his actions and behaviours), and you can imagine similar scenes playing out in living rooms up and down the country. It’s the normality of the background that gives the denouement it’s power. In some ways, the structure of the film is reminiscent of THREADS, in that the first third of the runtime is used to effectively convey the mundanity of everyday life before events transpire that destroy that world forever. Of course, there are no nuclear explosions in EXHIBIT A, just total destruction of a different, far more personal kind.

Viewers in the UK can watch EXHIBIT A now on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO. It’s definitely worth an hour and a half of your time.

The post FILM RECOMMENDATION – EXHIBIT A appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

AUTUMN: EXODUS AUDIOBOOK

The audiobook version of AUTUMN: EXODUS, narrated by the superb AUBREY PARSONS is available now from AUDIBLE, AMAZON, and APPLE. If you’ve not heard one of Aubrey’s narrations before, then you’re missing out. They’re something truly special indeed. But don’t take my word for it. I have a very limited number of free download codes for all three of the London trilogy books. Fill in the form below if you’re interested (terms and conditions apply*), but you’ll need to get in quick.

[contact-form-7]

All I ask in return for these codes is that you help me spread the word about the books. You can do this by posting about them or social media, or leaving a review on Amazon, Audible, Goodreads, or any other site. Your support is very much appreciated!

Audiobook promo codes – terms and conditions

You can use this form to request any of the books shown belowYou can request multiple booksThe number of codes available for each book vary and are limited, so your request may not be successfulIf a particular book is not listed, no more codes are availableThis offer is only available for Audible.com and Audible.co.ukI’ll endeavour to send codes within 24 hours of them being requestedMy decision is final in terms of sending codesAudible’s terms and conditions for promo code use apply.

The post AUTUMN: EXODUS AUDIOBOOK appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

FILM RECOMMENDATION – DEAD MAN’S SHOES

Last year I managed the sum total of one film recommendation on this site. Pathetic. This year will be different. I’m planning to post at least one recommendation a month – either a film, a book, or a TV series. I’m also around 60% through a complete re-watch of the original TWILIGHT ZONE, and I’m contemplating sharing my thoughts on every one of the 150+ episodes once I’m done. As far as films go, I don’t necessarily want to write about current movies that everyone else is talking about, instead I want to delve a little deeper. I’m interested in finding lost and overlooked gems. And by gems, I’m don’t mean films that are perfect (can any film be perfect?). I mean films that, for one reason or another, have lodged themselves in my brain after viewing.

Today’s recommendation is DEAD MAN’S SHOES – a revenge thriller from director SHANE MEADOWS (THIS IS ENGLAND) and actor PADDY CONSIDINE (HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, TYRANNOSAUR).

A disaffected soldier returns to his hometown to get even with the thugs who brutalized his mentally challenged brother years ago.

Here’s the trailer. Click the link below for my thoughts.

Read more

It wasn’t the trailer for DEAD MAN’S SHOES that attracted me to the movie, it was a single scene. It went viral last year, no doubt as a result of Considine’s appearance in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON when many folks realised something a lot of us had known for years – he’s a bloody incredible actor. You may have seen the clip in question. If not, check it out below.

If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll know that I love small-scale stories (or world-changing stories, told from small-scale perspectives). DEAD MAN’S SHOES feels like it takes place in a bubble – a tiny subsection of a small community in a lost suburb of a moderately-sized town. It’s all the more powerful because it feels so self-contained. What you see is (for the most part) what you get. Every action has consequences. There’s no chance of getting lost in the crowd, or of hiding from the local hitman.

Considine (who co-wrote the script with Meadows) plays Richard, a soldier who returns to his hometown after a period away on service. We learn that his younger brother Anthony (played by TOBY KEBELL) was the victim of abuse at the hands of a gang of local heavies and drug dealers. Now, with a chilling calm and emotionless determination, Richard exacts his revenge. GARY STRETCH – British boxing champ turned actor – is very well cast as the ringleader of the hoods.

So far, so straightforward. And for the most part, it is. But there’s another level to this film that caught me off-guard. The understated production and natural performances suck you in and, before you know it, you’ve got your eyes wide open and you’re unable to turn away as you witness some pretty horrific acts. The unexpected twists and violent scenes are belied by the mundanity of the location and the characters that inhabit this grubby corner of the world. At its (very black) heart, the film poses uncomfortable questions about crime and morality. Considine’s magnificent performance is worth the price of admission alone.

Unfortunately, I can’t find DEAD MAN’S SHOES on any of the major streaming services here in the UK just now. It’s available on DVD and Blu-ray, through, and I definitely recommend shelling out a few quid to watch this powerful and unsettling film.

The post FILM RECOMMENDATION – DEAD MAN’S SHOES appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

THE FINAL AUTUMN NOVEL – OUT NOW

The final AUTUMN novel – AUTUMN: EXODUS – is out today. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to THE LONDON TRILOGY. I may have another AUTUMN book in me, but it’ll be nothing like any of the previous instalments and it’ll tell a completely different part of the story. Until then – if it happens at all – thanks for your support. I’ve had an absolute blast returning to the grim, dark, rancid, ugly, foetid, decaying mess of the world of AUTUMN.

SIGNED PAPERBACKS AND (VERY) LIMITED HARDCOVERS: INFECTED BOOKS | ETSY

PAPERBACK: AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | INDIEBOUND | B&N

EBOOK: AMAZON | APPLE | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY | NOOK

The post THE FINAL AUTUMN NOVEL – OUT NOW appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.

RECOMMENDED READING – EPISODE THIRTEEN

CRAIG DILOUIE‘s career has been fascinating to follow. A quick scan of the archives of this site will show you how many top-notch novels he’s released over the years. From TOOTH AND NAIL back in 2010 right through to last year’s CHILDREN OF RED PEAK, his books have been varied and consistently entertaining. Having known Craig online for more than a decade, and having collaborated with him (and TIMOTHY W LONG) on THE FRONT series, I know he’s an extremely talented and hardworking chap. He’s now got himself into an enviable position – maintaining a presence in the indie marketplace, whilst putting out consistently entertaining novels through traditional publishers year-on-year: the best of both worlds.

This month sees the release of Craig’s new novel – EPISODE THIRTEEN – and it’s hugely entertaining.

Fade to Black is the newest hit ghost hunting reality TV show. Led by husband and wife team Matt and Claire Kirklin, it delivers weekly hauntings investigated by a dedicated team of ghost hunting experts.

Episode Thirteen takes them to every ghost hunter’s holy grail: the Paranormal Research Foundation. This brooding, derelict mansion holds secrets and clues about bizarre experiments that took place there in the 1970s. It’s also famously haunted, and the team hopes their scientific techniques and high tech gear will prove it. But as the house begins to reveal itself to them, proof of an afterlife might not be everything Matt dreamed of. A story told in broken pieces, in tapes, journals, and correspondence, this is the story of Episode Thirteen—and how everything went terribly, horribly wrong.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure when Craig sent me the synopsis for EPISODE THIRTEEN. Found footage movies are notoriously hit and miss affairs, and I was unsure how the approach would transfer to the written word. I needn’t have worried, because this is an excellent book. Despite the potential restrictions of the epistolary format, Craig’s writing gives both the characters and the plot enough room to breathe. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I was more than happy to provide a few words to support the release: “It’s the literary equivalent of a found footage movie, and it works beautifully. Part ghost story, part metaphysical horror, total nightmare — Episode Thirteen is a must read.”

EPISODE THIRTEEN is published by REDHOOK on 24 January, and I recommend grabbing a copy and starting the new year with this creepy, unpredictable read. You can pick it up here.

The post RECOMMENDED READING – EPISODE THIRTEEN appeared first on David Moody - author of AUTUMN and HATER.